Iraq army turns guns on Shiite cleric supporters in Karbala

The holy Shiite shrine city of Karbala became the scene of bloody violence on Wednesday, with 40 supporters of a prominent Shiite cleric - who is critical of the Iraqi government - killed along with five members of the Iraqi army.

Over 100 of Muhammad al-Sarkhi’s supporters were also detained on Wednesday, reports Iraqi news site al-Sumaria.

Fighting broke out after Iraqi forces attempted to arrest the cleric around midnight on Tuesday night, reports Reuters.

According to security forces, the army tried to detain Sarkhi after his followers began blocking roads and manning unofficial checkpoints around his neighbourhood in Karbala.

An unnamed security source told al-Sumaria that “the security operation is continuing in Karbala, in an attempt to crack down on those supporters of al-Sarkhi who are trying to ignite the security situation.”

There are reports that residents have been ordered to stay indoors since Wednesday morning.

Translation: In pictures / daytime curfew in Karbala since Wednesday morning #Iraq

According to the site, Sarkhi disappeared after a 2004 attempt by American forces to detain him on suspicion of killing “a number of soldiers.”

His website issued a statement on Wednesday denying rumours that Sarkhi had given himself up to Iraqi security forces.

Sarkhi’s supporters have seen several armed confrontations with the Iraqi army in the past years, and have also clashed with followers of other Shiite clerics.

Most recently, Sarkhi ignited tension within different groups of the Shiite community by criticising Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most revered figures among members of the sect in Iraq.

He is known for a relatively moderate stance towards Sunni groups, and he used a letter published on his website to slam Sistani’s call on his followers to take up arms against Sunni militants.

He also commented on the recent upheavals in Iraq, saying he had expected them for “years.”

In a video made public on Sunday, he said that “I have been expecting this chaos that we see today for years.”

“Human beings, if they have lost their dignity, their children, their wealth and their state, what else will they do? They will go out and fight against the state! There is no other solution for him.”

 “I have already warned the government of [Prime Minister Nouri] al-Maliki that the Sunnis of Iraq are oppressed, and that rebellion is a right.”